Writer: Hailey Evans
Photos: Duane Tinkey
If you’ve ever been a regular at a bar, you’ve probably had a favorite bartender. Maybe they can make a drink just how you like it, or maybe they know what you want before you even see a menu. Sometimes bartending gets a bad rap, but make no mistake: Any bartender worth their salt rim knows a good drink involves more than a quick ticket time and a fancy garnish.
So what do bartenders drink on their nights off? Where are they regulars? Since the best ones have opinions about what and how they serve, you can bet they’re discerning about what they drink. We asked a few local bartenders to pour us a drink and tell us where they post up post-shift.
Ben Bourland
He made: A mocktail at The Contrary (pictured top of story)
He orders: A Jamaican rum daiquiri. “I always love the Bartender’s Handshake, and I’m a big fan of Bar Martinez, too.”
Michael Dodson
He made: A rum daiquiri at Bar Martinez.
He orders: “If I’m just getting off a shift, I stop at Alpine for a beer and a fernet, or I go to Hello, Marjorie for a daiquiri.”
Carlos Guzman Vazquez
He made: A Negroni at The Lift.
He orders: Reposado tequila or mezcal, neat. “I hang out at the [Bartender’s] Handshake pretty regularly, but more often than not, I end up at GT’s. Depending on who’s working, they’ll have my drink ready by the time I reach the bar.”
Andrea Rosales
She made: The Luna Moth at the Bartender’s Handshake.
She orders: A Miller High Life and a shot of fernet. “If I just want to listen to music and not talk to anybody — or at least not engage in any deep conversation — the Greenwood Lounge is the perfect place to decompress. It’s a fun place to people-watch.”
Eva LaValle
She made: A glass of nonalcoholic wine at Purveyor.
She orders: A Negroni or vesper, often at The Lift. “I like simple classic cocktails.”
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